Introduction
PROJECT
From 2021-2024, Campaign 2000, Citizens for Public Justice and Canada Without Poverty co-led a national community-based research project that engaged communities experiencing poverty to recommend indicators measuring progress towards eradicating poverty and achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This project, Localizing Canada’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals,builds on Campaign 2000’s ongoing monitoring of government progress towards ending child and family poverty, aiming to address the limitations of the Canadian Indicator Framework for tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 1: No Poverty.
Through the project, the research team held 17 community conversations with 227 people affected by poverty and intersecting forms of marginalization in every province and territory. The project website hosts summaries of each community conversation.
This local framework is based on the knowledge and experiences shared by participants in the Whitehorse community conversation, co-hosted by the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition on June 27, 2023.
FINDINGS
Measurement of progress towards poverty eradication in Canada should reflect the lived realities of people experiencing poverty. The indicators used in the Canadian Indicator Framework for measuring progress towards SDG 1: No Poverty are the Market Basket Measure (MBM) and the prevalence of asset resilience.[i] Campaign 2000 report cards and early research from this project highlighted the limitations of these two indicators to track progress towards SDG 1.[ii] [iii]
The project set out to address these gaps with an emphasis on localizing measures of poverty reduction and centring the knowledge and experience of lived experts. Local visions of communities free from poverty emerged. The frameworks drawn from this research reflect participants’ subjective, multidimensional experience of poverty, which is wide-ranging, affects every aspect of life, and differs place to place and community to community. The frameworks also reflect poverty as a violation of human rights resulting in short- and long- term physical, mental, spiritual, and social harm.
These findings highlight the importance of community-based, culturally relevant, localized measures and indicators for ending poverty and the need to urgently recognize and address the systemic intersecting power structures that create and deepen inequities and experiences of poverty.
In addition to the 17 local frameworks, the findings are illustrated in a National Community-Based Indicator Framework, intended to supplement the Canadian Indicator Framework. It outlines dimensions, measures, indicators, and data sources for poverty eradication (including recommendations and gaps, where no indicators exist) that reflect the knowledge and experiences of lived experts and community organizations across the country.
While the findings depict a broad range of expertise from across the country, they remain a snapshot of 227 people, in 17 places, at one moment in time, and further engagement and community-based research is required to continue to centre lived experts in the work of poverty eradication and achieving the 2030 Agenda.
UNDERSTANDING THE FRAMEWORK
The entire framework falls under Sustainable Development Goal 1: End Poverty in All its Forms Everywhere.
The framework is organized by 12 interdependent dimensions of communities with no poverty. These dimensions are interconnected and non-hierarchical – all connect and contribute to the multifaceted way that people experience poverty in Canada. Many of the indicators could fall under multiple dimensions, but for the sake of length, they are each only shown under one.
Dimensions:
- Social inclusion and community connection
- Equality, justice, and freedom
- Joy, happiness, and hope for the future
- Income and material security
- Decent work
- Education for all
- Right to housing is realized
- Food security and sovereignty
- Health and mental health
- Equitable access to services, programs, and supports
- Connected and supported families and children
- Accountable and engaged governments and institutions
In each dimension, measures refer to qualities of communities with no poverty.
Indicators are statistical definitions of the measures.
As living documents, the local frameworks offer Example Indicators and Data Sources. The local frameworks are intended to complement the National Framework, highlight local priorities, and demonstrate opportunities for continued work in localizing measurement towards ending poverty in Canada. They are accompanied by living action recommendation documents.
Social inclusion and community connection
Community members feel valued and connected, have opportunities to participate in society and culture, care for and support each other, and live in harmony.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Everyone is connected | ||
Having a sense of togetherness | Example: Percentage of people who report a strong or very strong sense of belonging to their community | Government of Yukon and Canadian Index of Well-being |
Being able to help others | ||
People share what they have | ||
People care for each other | ||
People feel safe and comfortable with each other | ||
People understand each other | ||
People listen to each other’s stories | ||
People have gatherings and share meals | ||
Communities have social gatherings for elders | ||
Being able to live according to cultural values | ||
Communities have ceremonies together | ||
Being able to speak your own language | ||
Feeling proud of your history | ||
Having a connection to the land | ||
People share food with everyone in the community, especially country food | ||
Children and youth have access to cultural activities, like First Nations artwork and sewing | ||
First Nations people practice traditional skills | ||
Having access to opportunities | ||
Being able to accept opportunities | ||
People have the freedom to pursue their dreams and purpose | ||
Children and youth have access to sports and recreation opportunities | ||
Children have opportunities to meet others from across the country | ||
People have opportunities to connect with people from other communities facing similar challenges |
Equality, justice, and freedom
Everyone’s human rights are upheld. Communities are free from systemic inequality and injustice, discrimination, oppression, violence, and trauma, and the harms of colonization.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Everyone is equal | ||
Freedom from violence and abuse | ||
Everyone is safe | ||
Everyone is respected | ||
Freedom from wealth inequality | ||
Freedom from racism | ||
Healing from intergenerational trauma | ||
Harm of colonial policies is meaningfully addressed and repaired | ||
Treaties and agreements are upheld | ||
Freedom from the harms of residential schools | ||
First Nations people are paid fairly for the resources stolen from their lands | ||
First Nations people do not need to pay for their traditional rights, like hunting and fishing licences and land | ||
Being able to learn or relearn your own language for free | ||
Freedom from racism and stigma in service and care provision | ||
First Nations people are free from stigma and stereotypes | ||
Freedom from discrimination against immigrants | ||
Freedom from stigma and judgment | ||
Freedom from stigma or judgment based on appearance or clothing | ||
Police believe and protect survivors of abuse | ||
Freedom from drug trafficking | ||
Climate change is equitably addressed |
Joy, happiness and hope for the future
Everyone is able to be happy, feel ease, and have the time and freedom to enjoy life. People have hope, can imagine the future, and don’t feel trapped in cycles of poverty and isolation.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Living in happiness | ||
Living with ease | ||
Living with comfort | ||
People are kind to each other | ||
Freedom from worry | ||
Feeling like you have a way forward | ||
Everybody has hope | ||
Feeling hopeful and confident in the future | ||
Communities have singing and dancing | ||
People laugh | ||
People have a sense of humour | ||
Being able to play with pets |
Income and material security
Incomes reflect the cost of living. People have the ability to pay all their bills, meet all their basic needs, have some flexibility to not live paycheque to paycheque, and are able to thrive.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Everybody’s basic needs are met | ||
Freedom from being in survival mode | ||
Having access to running water, electricity, sanitation, and laundry | ||
Having clothes for different occasions | ||
Basic needs are affordable | ||
Being able to afford supplies for hunting, fishing, and harvesting | ||
The cost of hunting, fishing, and harvesting supplies is equitable compared to other regions in the country | ||
Access to phone and computer | ||
Everybody has enough money | ||
Being able to save money | ||
Freedom from living paycheque to paycheque | ||
Feeling confident you have enough money to support yourself, even if you lose your job or an emergency occurs | ||
Freedom from borrowing money | ||
Incomes reflect the cost of living | ||
Minimum wage is a living wage | Example: Living wage compared to minimum wage | YAPC living wage calculation |
Incomes increase with inflation | ||
Social assistance reflects the cost of living | ||
Disability assistance reflects the cost of living | ||
Equitable access to benefits for new immigrants |
Decent work
People can work in jobs with a living wage, safe work conditions, opportunities for growth, and job training. Work is fulfilling and allows people to use their skills.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Access to job opportunities for everyone who wants to work | ||
Equitable access to job opportunities | ||
Ability to work in a field you’re passionate about, regardless of pay | ||
Access to training and supports to find jobs | ||
Employers hire people from all communities | ||
Freedom from discrimination and stereotyping at work |
Education for all
Everyone has equitable access to affordable, quality education, training, and learning supports.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Everyone has equitable access to education | ||
Medical and nursing school is accessible to all, in terms of finances and qualifications | ||
Education is offered in various formats for accessibility, including in-person for those who don’t have internet or computers | ||
Equitable access to affordable education for international students |
Right to housing is realized
Everyone has a home. There is adequate, affordable secure housing for all, free from discrimination, and reflecting the needs of communities and neighbourhoods.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Everyone has safe, secure housing | Example: Percentage of Yukoners in core housing need | Statistics Canada Census Data |
Knowing you have somewhere to sleep | ||
All children have homes | ||
Housing is affordable | ||
Freedom from housing discrimination for people receiving social assistance | ||
New housing being built is affordable and reflects needs of community | ||
Rent subsidies increase with the market | ||
First Nations people have homes on their own land | ||
First Nations people living off reserve have housing | ||
First Nations and off-reserve housing supports are well-coordinated with no gaps | ||
Youth have access to an emergency shelter | ||
Men have access to an emergency shelter | ||
Couples and families have access to emergency shelters without separation | ||
People who use drugs have access to supportive housing with no waitlist | ||
Youth have access to supportive housing |
Food sovereignty and security
Everyone has access to nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate food; the ability to hunt, harvest, grow, and share food according to cultural values; and the freedom to choose what they want to eat.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Everyone has enough to eat | ||
Everyone can eat nutritious food | ||
Everyone has access to cooking supplies and refrigeration | ||
Being able to eat the food that you were raised on | ||
Freedom from worrying about having enough to eat | ||
Everyone can afford food | ||
Having the freedom to hunt | ||
Being able to afford supplies for hunting, fishing, and harvesting | ||
The cost of hunting, fishing, and harvesting supplies is equitable compared to other regions in the country | ||
People share food with everyone in the community, especially country food | ||
People cook for elders | ||
Elders receive country food | ||
First Nations people do not need hunting or fishing licences | ||
Being able to choose what you want from the food bank | ||
Food banks offer fresh, varied, culturally appropriate items |
Health and mental health
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Everyone has good mental and physical health | ||
Freedom from the mental, physical, and spiritual harms of poverty | ||
Feeling like you have the health to live your life how you want to | ||
Everyone has access to good quality, timely healthcare | ||
Everyone has a doctor | ||
Everyone has access to healing | ||
Everybody has access to mental health care | ||
Having access to running water and sanitation | ||
The air is clean | ||
Everyone is equitably and fairly treated when accessing health care | ||
Freedom from racism and stigma in the health care system | ||
Freedom from suicide | ||
Freedom from overdose deaths | ||
Freedom from addiction | ||
Access to support and treatment for addiction | ||
Youth, couples, and families have access to treatment for addiction | ||
Everyone has access to harm reduction training and supplies |
Equitable access to services, programs, and supports
Services and supports are accessible and coordinated, with no arbitrary bureaucratic barriers or discrimination. Community organizations are resourced and are by communities, for communities.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Everyone has access to transportation | ||
Everyone has access to public transit | ||
Services and programs are well-coordinated and prioritized | ||
Community organizations are led by the communities they support | ||
Service provision is informed by the people accessing the services | ||
Services have low-barrier mobile outreach options | ||
Everyone has access to a support worker or group | ||
Funding for projects and organizations is accessible and easy to apply for | ||
First Nations living off reserve have equitable access to services and supports | ||
Friendship centres are supported and resourced | ||
Friendship centres have regular programs | ||
Men have access to friendship centre programs | ||
Women experiencing gender-based violence or abuse have access to safe services and supports |
Connected and supported families and children
Families are supported to stay together and spend time together. The child welfare system is equitable, trauma-informed, and reflects needs of children and families. Everyone has access to affordable childcare.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Families are supported | ||
Everyone has access to affordable childcare | ||
Children are free from abuse | ||
Children and youth have opportunities for recreation and activities | ||
Couples and families can stay together when accessing shelters or treatment |
Accountable and engaged governments and institutions
Governments are accountable to communities. Policy-making is community-engaged, trauma-informed, responsive, and based on local needs and values.
Measure | Indicator | Data Source |
Treaties and agreements are upheld | ||
Policies are based on good relationships | ||
Harm of colonial policies is meaningfully addressed and repaired | ||
Governments engage people with lived expertise of poverty | ||
Lived expertise is valued in government roles | ||
Government officials and First Nations leaders are involved in conversations with communities about what needs to change | ||
Government officials are accountable to the community | ||
Government promises are backed up by action and investment | ||
Community members, organizations, governments, and First Nations meet together for discussions | ||
First Nations governments uphold First Nations values | ||
Salary and wage transparency for people in government, including First Nations government | ||
Feeling understood by government officials | ||
Feeling confident that the government will make positive changes |
[i] Statistics Canada. (2021). The Canadian Indicator Framework for the Sustainable Development Goals. Statistics Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-26-0004/112600042021001-eng.htm
[ii] Campaign 2000. Pandemic Lessons: Ending Child and Family Poverty is Possible. February 14, 2023. https://campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/English-Pandemic-Lessons_Ending-Child-and-Family-Poverty-is-Possible_2022-National-Report-Card-on-Child-and-Family-Poverty.pdf
[iii] Barrie, H., & Sarangi, L. (2022). Literature Review: Localizing Canada’s Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. Campaign 2000: End Child and Family Poverty. https://sdg.campaign2000.ca/wp-content/uploads/Campaign-2000-Localizing-SDGs-Project-Literature-Review-May-2022.pdf